Trek Turkey's High Taurus and Cappadocia
Hike 100km through the towering peaks, arid plateaus and otherworldly valleys of the Aladaglar Mountains and Göreme National Park
What's Included?
Small Like-minded Groups
Solo-friendly by design, join our small n’ sociable groups of up to 12 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people…
What's it like?
Traverse the high-altitude passes and remote plateaus of the Taurus range and summit Mount Emler (3723m)
Hike among the caves, ‘fairy chimneys’ and sculpted valleys of the UNESCO-listed Cappadocia region
Camp amid panoramic vistas and the seven lakes of Yedigoller, and explore ancient cave villages carved into the landscape
Key Information
Day 1
Welcome to Turkey
Touch down in the heart of Anatolia, where you'll be collected by your host for the short transfer to your hotel in Kayseri. If there’s time, explore the old city which has some of the most impressive mosques in the region, masterpieces from the Seljuk period, and an 800-year-old bazaar.
Day 2
Into the mountains
Hiking
Meet your guide and your fellow travellers over breakfast and chat about the adventure ahead, before getting into the van and heading to the Aladaglar Mountains - home to lakes, deep canyons and the highest peaks of Turkey's mighty Taurus range. Near Elekgolu village, you'll set off on a hike through the sheer-walled Kazikli Canyon, up into the Emli Valley and on to your campsite. Settle into your first night in the mountains with a Turkish tea and dinner.
Day 3
To Sokulupinar
Hiking
Fuel up on breakfast and head out in the fresh mountain air, through the forest and upwards to the Siyirmalik Valley. The terrain levels out as you reach the Eznevit Plateau, inhabited by hospitable semi-nomadic families in their traditional tents. Take in the epic views, then continue onwards to Sakartas, finally reaching the next campsite at Sokulupinar. Settle in for dinner and bed down at an elevation of 2000m.
Day 4
Dipsiz Lake
Hiking
Set off towards the Arpalik Plateau and up to Tekepinari, home to grazing alpine ibex. Hike along a narrow trail with stunning views of the north face of Mount Demirkazik (3756m), tracking a riverbed leading to Dipsiz Lake. Tuck into a picnic lunch and take a refreshing dip in the lake if the sun is shining. Head back down and on to the campsite to catch the changing colours of the sunset (and a well-deserved dinner).
Day 5
Summit Mount Emler (3723m)
Hiking
Head out and up the Karayalak Valley, leading to a natural spring and great views of the surrounding mountains. Continue on a steep section that leads over the Celikbuyduran Pass (3450m) and steadily upwards to summit one of the region's most renowned peaks, Mount Emler (3723m). Take in the panoramic vista of the Bolkar range and Mounts Erciyes (3917m) and Hasan (3268m). Return to the pass and continue downhill on to the arid, red rocks and colourful seven lakes of Yedigoller Plateau (3100m), and then on to your highest lakeside campsite at 3100m.
Day 6
Tackle the Teke Kalesi Pass (3517m)
Hiking
Grab your pack and hit the trail to leave the Yedigoller Plateau, pass the second-largest lake in the area and continue up to the Teke Kalesi Pass (3517m). Take in the incredible views over the plateau, eyes open for more ibex with their curved horns. Head downwards through remote, arid pastures towards Yildiz (Star) Lake, until you reach Karagol Lake campsite at 2800m where you can relax for the evening.
Day 7
To Cappadocia
Hiking
Your final hike in the Aladaglar Mountains takes you down from Karagol, past babbling creeks, through Maden Gorge to Pinarbasi village. Here, you'll jump in the van and head towards Cappadocia, stopping en route to explore ancient Derinkuyu - an underground warren of a city carved into the rock. Roll into the village of Uchisar, where you can explore its fortress and take in the views of the unique Cappadocian landscape, then hike through the Akvadi Valley. Dotted with grapevines, follow the dry riverbed to Çavuşin village. One of the oldest settlements in the area, Çavuşin is made up of rock-cut dwellings and elegantly carved stone houses.
Day 8
Hike the valleys of Cappadocia
Hiking
Head out into the World Heritage Site and hike Kiliclar (Sword) Valley, past Cappadocia's other-worldly ‘fairy chimneys’ and long abandoned cave homes, drinking in the stunning views. Discover the houses, churches and frescos cut into the rock at the Göreme open-air museum before hiking through two of the most beautiful landscapes of Cappadocia: Meskendir Valley and Red Valley. Take in the spectacular rock formations in hues of red, pink and yellow.
Day 9
Depart
Rise and shine early to watch the hot air balloons float over the landscape, then bid farewell to your fellow adventurers before you’re transferred to the airport in time for your onward flight.
Day 1
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 2 – Day 6
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 7 – Day 8
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 9
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
What is the food like?
The food in Turkey is more than just your classic kebab, with traditional and local meals as varied as its history. Many dishes make good use of seasonal vegetables, with fresh bread always in easy reach.
A classic Turkish breakfast ('kahvalti') is a mezze-type affair with bread, butter, olives, white cheese, cucumber, tomatoes, jam and honey, with strong coffee or freshly brewed Turkish tea. For lunch or dinner you could be served dolma (stuffed vegetables packed with a rice, spices, pine nuts, and maybe small dried fruits). Many types of kebap or köfte are popular, along with sweet or savoury börek (filo-based pastries) or lahmacun (flatbread topped with minced meat and seasoning), followed by sweet specialities.
Dietary requirements and allergies can be catered for, but please note that in some areas it may be difficult to cater for all special meal requirements - please request these on your passenger info form.
What is the accommodation like?
Kayseri
Your first night in Turkey will be spent at the Gevher Hotel. Located a short drive from the airport and within easy reach of the local sights and restaurants, the hotel is a great jumping-off point to explore the region. You’ll stay in twin rooms with private bathrooms.
Aladaglar National Park
During the hike, you'll stay at campsites at different elevations. Your host will provide a twin share tent, complete with a sleeping mat. You’ll be accompanied by your guides and porters who will cook your meals. At the Emli Valley and Sokulupinar campsites, there are basic toilets and cold water washing blocks. At Yedigoller and Karagol campsites, the only facilities will be toilet tents.
Çavuşin
Your nights in Çavuşin village will be spent at the Garden Inn. Located in the heart of Cappadocia and with a large garden and terrace, it’s a great place to get up early and watch the myriad of hot air balloons float by. You’ll stay in twin rooms with private bathrooms.
Upgrades
For solo travellers looking for their own space, an optional private room and tent can be booked for an extra charge, see Optional Extras for the price.
The Area
Logistics
Starts
Erkilet International Airport (Kayseri)
Any time on Day 1
Ends
Erkilet International Airport (Kayseri)
Any time on Day 9
Transfers
Your host will meet you on arrival at Kayseri Airport and transfer you to your hotel in the city. On Day 9, your host will transfer you from Cappadocia to Kayseri Airport in time for your onward flight.
Airport transfers are included in the main price if you arrive on Day 1 and depart on Day 9. For those arriving early or wanting to stay on longer, extra nights at the hotel and airport transfers can be arranged with your host at an additional cost. Please see Optional Extras for more information.
Travel options
There are indirect international flights to Kayseri from the UK, as well as direct and indirect flights from various major hubs in Europe which transit via Istanbul.
From the US, there are indirect flights from various major hubs which transit via Istanbul and Frankfurt.
Enjoy 12.5% Off Outdoor Gear
In need of a few more items? All bookings receive a 12.5% discount to use at Cotswold Outdoor, Snow + Rock and Runner's Need.
What's included?
- Camping equipment including tents, sleeping pad, dining and cooking gear
What's available to hire?
- Sleeping bag (3-season)
What do I need to bring?
BAGS
- Soft overnight duffel bag or rucksack
- Daypack (30 litres)
- Waterproof liner for kitbag or rucksack/drybags
CLOTHES
- Waterproof warm jacket
- Waterproof trousers
- Breathable wicking layers
- Robust fleece jacket or similar
- Warm hat
- Gloves
- Buff or neckscarf
- Lightweight trousers/shorts/skirts
- T-shirts
- Underwear and hiking socks
- Swimwear
- Sunglasses
- Sunhat
- Something to sleep in/thermals (merino is best)
- Hiking boots (worn-in)
- Sandals
SLEEPING
- Cotton or silk sleeping bag liner
- Sleeping bag (3-season)
- Travel pillow or pillowcase
OTHER
- Universal travel plug adapter
- Power bank or solar charger
- Passports (and visas)
- Travel insurance documents
- Cash and debit/credit card
- Hiking poles (optional)
- Chapstick
- Ear plugs
- Insect repellent
- Suncream
- Personal first-aid kit (inc. blister treatment)
- Personal items (biodegradable toiletries, sanitary wear etc)
- Toilet kit (toilet paper, biodegradable bags to carry paper out to dispose of)
- Quick-dry towel
- Alcohol hand-gel
- Headtorch or torch
- Reusable water bottle x1 litre
- Biodegradable wet-wipes
- Energy bars and snacks - read our article on Best Hiking Snacks
- Water purification tablets/treatment system
Hiking Poles (A Set, 7 days)
Payable Before Departure
Hiking Poles (A Set, 7 days)
…
Sleeping bag (3 Season,5 nights)
Payable Before Departure
Sleeping bag (3 Season,5 nights)
…
Pre Trip Accommodation Kayseri Hotel Room (single/double/twin)
Payable Before Departure
Pre Trip Accommodation Kayseri Hotel Room (single/double/twin)
… Per Night
Post Trip Accommodation Cappadocia Hotel Room (single/double/twin)
Payable Before Departure
Post Trip Accommodation Cappadocia Hotel Room (single/double/twin)
… Per Night
Optional Private Room & Tent Upgrade
Payable Before Departure
Optional Private Room & Tent Upgrade
…
Private Transfer from Cappadocia Hotel to Kayseri Airport (1-3 people)
Payable Before Departure
Private Transfer from Cappadocia Hotel to Kayseri Airport (1-3 people)
…
Private Transfer from Kayseri Airport to Kayseri Hotel (1-3 people)
Payable Before Departure
Private Transfer from Kayseri Airport to Kayseri Hotel (1-3 people)
…
We’re still waiting to collect any reviews from other travellers on this trip. However, all our hosts go through an extensive vetting process to ensure that your adventure is awesome.
We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity.
What's the number?
It works out on average at 240kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities, guides, staff and office operations.
The only thing it doesn’t include right now is flights and travel to the destination. We do make an overall estimate across all our customers separately, but as we don’t book flights, have customers from all corners of the world, and no way of reliably knowing their travel plans, we simply can’t include an individual number in the figure on display here. We’ve got a goal to fix that, so that when you book, there is a way to measure and mitigate the carbon emitted by your flight too.
But what does the number mean?
Yep, hard to picture eh? To give you an idea:
- Driving 1000miles/1609km would be approx. 281kg of CO2 in an average car (or 140.5kg per person if there was 2 of you in it).
- A return economy class flight London - New York would be approx. 1,619kg (1.66 tonnes) per person.
- 10 trees in a temperate forest are estimated to remove approx. 250kg of CO2 from the air in a period of 5-10 years.
What are we doing about it?
Our trips are relatively low-carbon by design, and we're working with all our hosts to develop long term carbon reduction plans. We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity, ensuring the protection of the reserve and its wildlife.
Want to know more?
Amazingly, no international travel company has ever publicly published their carbon measurements before, as far as we know. We believe that must change, quickly. So we’re openly sharing the method we used in the hope that other companies will be able to more easily follow suit and build on what we've done so far. You'll find it all here.
Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.
Tips are not included in the trip cost. These are entirely at your discretion and the amount should be reflective of your perception of service and quality - a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.
Tap water in Turkey is generally not safe to drink, the quality of the water and mains infrastructure in more rural areas cannot be guaranteed. If plastic bottled water must be used, we suggest 3 or 4 members of the group share one large 5 or 10 litre bottle to refill your own bottles instead of buying separately. Please pack your own reusable bottle, it will be used well.
While hiking in the Aladaglar Mountains, water for drinking and for cooking is conveyed directly to campsites from natural mountain springs via sealed pipes, and can be purified if necessary. Please check with your guide at each camping location.
Water bottles with inbuilt filters are becoming increasingly popular for travellers to use in countries without clean tap water. Please see our guide for advice on the best water filters for adventurers if you wish to bring your own filtration bottle on this trip.
For the duration of the hike in the High Taurus, excess luggage can be securely stored on Day 2 in Aladaglar Cukurbag village, at a private village house. You will be reunited with your excess luggage on Day 7 before heading to Cappadocia.
We recommend checking out the country specific information here and also talking to a travel nurse.
Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.
Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our adventures and you are required to provide your policy information before departing.
Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure. We also strongly recommend it includes cancellation and curtailment insurance, should you be unable to join your trip for specific reasons such as illness.
We fully endorse Campbell Irvine as their insurance offers all of the above, so get in touch with them or call on 020 7938 1734 to get your insurance sorted. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your adventure, just to cover you for any last-minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!
We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.
If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.
All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.
You're always in good company on one of our adventures.
Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.
Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.
It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.
Don't just take our word for it:
- 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
- 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
- 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends
See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.
Interested in a more exclusive experience? Opt for a 'Private Group' through the dates and prices tab to book this adventure for just you and your chosen companions.
Our team of Adventure Hunters create exclusive adventures with highly vetted, specialist hosts. We only work with independent, local in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with.
Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).
For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.
Got questions? We've got answers
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